Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) just passed away; reign covered 15 Prime Ministers, 14 Presidents, 7 Popes

[Hammerfestus | 3,880]

On 9/9/2022 at 5:59 PM, Daniel_Doyce said:

I didn't mention the word "worse." We've already seen some of the consequences, though. When one empire declines, others take its place. Is the present-day Chinese colonialist empire in HK and the African warlords like Idi Amin and Mugabe and the Middle Eastern theocrats that took over former British colonies better? The British colonies in Southeast Asia got a real good taste of Japanese empire during WWII.

But the bigger point is that those who are unhappy that we don't live in utopia and want to tear everything down don't even stop to consider the possible consequences, or don't care.

Being theoretically less of a scumfuck than someone else does not make you not a scumfuck.

[Tabonga | 2,328]

When dealing with Imperial Japan there is no theoretical about it - they were arguably (to the point of certainty) the most brutal of the colonial powers.  Anyone (at least non-collaborators) who would want to live in any of Japan's conquered territories (euphemistically and disingenuously known as The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere)  rather than any of Britain's colonies (or the American Phillipines for that matter) needs to read some history.  They ran medical experiments of captive peoples (read the history of Unit 731 - which killed upwards of 1/2 million people -mostly Chinese but they were equal opportunity abusers) that were every bit as brutal as anything  the Nazis were doing.  The following book is a hard read in that it is very brutal - but worth it if one wants a glimpse at the Japanese's military mindset in that period:

Oddly enough it was a Nazi Party member who played a large role in helping to protect some of the Chinese civilians who were brutalized by the Japanese army;

And there are many many accounts of the mistreatment of Allied prisoners (and lots of native peoples thown in the mix - who suffered greatly to disease since they didn't have an organization to provide things like basic sanitation which the military prisoners had) in the Japanese POW camps.  While Bridge on the River Kwai  was a good movie it did a great disservice in light of what the human cost was to build that bridge (actually several bridges)  and the associated railway.

Edited September 13, 2022 by Tabonga

[Daniel_Doyce | 475]

55 minutes ago, Tabonga said:

When dealing with Imperial Japan there is no theoretical about it - they were arguably (to the point of certainty) the most brutal of the colonial powers.  Anyone (at least non-collaborators) who would want to live in any of Japan's conquered territories (euphemistically and disingenuously known as The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere)  rather than any of Britain's colonies (or the American Phillipines for that matter) needs to read some history.  They ran medical experiments of captive peoples (read the history of Unit 731 - which killed upwards of 1/2 million people -mostly Chinese but they were equal opportunity abusers) that were every bit as brutal as anything  the Nazis were doing.  The following book is a hard read in that it is very brutal - but worth it if one wants a glimpse at the Japanese's military mindset in that period:

Oddly enough it was a Nazi Party member who played a large role in helping to protect some of the Chinese civilians who were brutalized by the Japanese army;

And there are many many accounts of the mistreatment of Allied prisoners (and lots of native peoples thown in the mix - who suffered greatly to disease since they didn't have an organization to provide things like basic sanitation which the military prisoners had) in the Japanese POW camps.  While Bridge on the River Kwai  was a good movie it did a great disservice in light of what the human cost was to build that bridge (actually several bridges)  and the associated railway.

This can't be true, I was informed it's all thoretical!

Within the last millennium, the Mongols or the Soviet Union may give them a run for the title of most brutal, but it's debatable.

Every major civilization has been both total scumfucks and the victims of absolute scumfuckery. That's the story of human history.

[Estil | 1,265]

 

[phart010 | 1,708]

On 9/11/2022 at 9:27 PM, Daniel_Doyce said:

I hope Charles III has a more auspicious reign than his two earlier namesakes. At least the monarchy will continue and always remind England that England's greatness requires a sense of stability and honoring of tradition that can be so easily forgotten.

Nah man. What makes England great is:
-Isaac Newton, Calculus, Physics
-English common law
-the Beatles
-James Bond 007
-Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Mclaren
-tea and biscuits 
-fish and chips

Royalty is low on the list

Edited September 13, 2022 by phart010